Month: August 2019

“I’ll take a potato chip… and eat it!”

From: Death Note

Genre: Cartoons, Television, Anime

Who said it?: Light Yagami

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the highly celebrated anime Death Note. The anime follows Light Yagami who discovered the Death Note, a notebook that has the power to kill anyone if you write that person’s name in it. The anime turns into a battle of wits between Light Yagami (who uses the name Kira as a serial murderer) and L, the detective assigned to finding how all these people are being murdered.

The quote comes in Episode 8 of the anime. Light discovered that L ordered that hidden cameras be placed all over his house. He orders the demon Ryuk to search for all the camera. Finding no blind spots, Light still manages to find a way to continue to write in the Death Note by writing the names with one hand while doing innocuous things like studying or… eating a potato chip.

Geek wisdom: It may be a good idea to never take things at face value. Just because something looks harmless, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t something sinister hidden beneath  the action. Just like Light/Kira eating a potato chip may seem like nothing, it’s actually a way to distract to what he’s actually doing.

“You’ll float, too!”

From: Stephen King’s It, both the television miniseries and the 2017 film

Genre: Movies/Books

Who said it?: Pennywise the Clown and Georgie

The story behind the quote: This week quote comes from Stephen King’s horror novel, It. The book was adapted a couple of times, once in a 1990 miniseries and a big blockbuster 2017 film. The quote appears in both version but said by different people… somewhat.

In the 1990 miniseries, the quote is said early on. When Georgie loses his paper boat in the sewer, Pennywise the Clown (played here by Tim Curry) shows Georgie the boat. The devilish clown entices the boy to get the boat and also informs the child that there are all sorts of things, such as balloons. When Georgie asks if they float, Pennywise grabs the boy and delivers the quote.

In the 2017 movie, the quote is said also during the early parts of the film. Georgie’s older brother, Bill, is mourning his brother’s death. One night, he hears a noise and follows it to the basement. Here, he sees Georgie. However, the boy is actually Pennywise (here played by Bill Skarsgard) and makes “Georgie” deliver the quote several times.

Geek wisdom: Just because something sounds cool, that doesn’t mean you have to ride the bandwagon. It may seem cool to “float” but it actually means something scary and frightening. Always think for yourself and not just go along with the crowd because it’s the current fad.

“I wish I were big!”

From: Big

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Josh Baskin

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the 1988 fantasy comedy movie Big. The film has been ingrained in popular culture because of the walking piano and the Zoltar wishing machine that were featured in the movie. The film stars Tom Hanks as Josh Baskins, a 12-year old boy who wishes to become big.

The quote comes early in the film. Josh Baskins, after being told he’s too small to go on one of the carnival rides, encounters a Zoltar wishing machine. He inserts a coin and, when the Zoltar machine prompts him, he delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: If you’re a kid, don’t be in a rush to grow up. In the movie, the adult Josh Baskins (played by Tom Hanks) is overwhelmed by the responsibilities of being an adult. While you may think being older is all great, there are other aspects, such as working for a living and budgeting your time and money, that you don’t have to think of when your young. So enjoy your time being a kid while you can.

“‘Strong’? You see? You see! Your stupid minds! Stupid! Stupid!”

From: Plan 9 from Outer Space

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Eros

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the “Citizen Kane” of bad movies, Ed Wood’s Plan 9 from Outer Space. Although heralded for being one of the worst films when it came out in 1959, it has since become a cult classic and one of those “so bad, it’s good” kinds of movies. It also brought Ed Wood to the limelight.

The quote comes near the end of the film. The aliens have taken some humans and Eros (played by Dudley Manlove) explains that their reason for bringing the dead back to life. It was meant to be a warning that the humans are close to creating a device that can explode sun molecules. If this happens, the entire universe will explode in a disastrous chain reaction. When one of the humans exclaims that they will be stronger with its creation, Eros realizes that the humans are too immature and delivers the quote in frustration.

Geek wisdom: There are going to be people who will be too stubborn to want help. It may be a friend who is destroying his health from too many vices or a family member who is spending too much than they can earn. These people will say that they aren’t doing anything wrong and, unfortunately, there’s nothing you can really do. You can really only help someone when they realize they need help.

“I love you 3000.”

From: Avengers: Endgame

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Tony Stark and Morgan Stark

The story behind the quote: This quote comes from the 22nd film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Avengers: Endgame. The film has received both critical and financial success and has surpassed Avatar as the highest grossing films of all time.

The quote comes near the start and the end of the movie. The first time it’s uttered, Tony Stark/Iron Man (played by Robert Downey) is tucking in his daughter, Morgan Stark, in bed. Tony says that he loves her a lot and Morgan delivers the quote to her dad.

The quote is said once more by a recording of Tony Stark during his wake. In a holographic recording to both Pepper Pots (played by Gwyneth Paltrow) and Morgan, he delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: We may think we have all the time in the world but we don’t know when life may just suddenly be cut short. So never forget to tell the people you care about how you feel.